SKI WAX FRICTION

Problem Scenario

Its helps skiers see which wax is faster.

Broad Question

Does temperature of ski wax effect skis friction?

Specific Question

Does temperature of ski wax effect skis friction?

Hypothesis

I think that 25-15 degrees Fahrenheit will work the best.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

Seconds

Dependent Variable:

Type of wax

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

---

---

---

---

General Plan

1. Wax two pairs of 170 cm dynastars WC giant slalom skis with identical base structure.
2. Place bottom side up with tips resting on a sawhorse.
3. Leave skis outside for two hours.
4. Get ice cubes the same size.
5. Put ice cubs at the top of the skis, let them go while timing how long it takes.

Potential Problems And Solutions

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Experimental Design

What is your experimental unit?

One ski

Number Of Trials:

Four

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

Three different waxes

Number of Observations:

12

When data will be collected:

March 1st

Where will data be collected?:

At my house

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
Wax	1	Stan and Dans	$20.00
Wax	1	Stan and Dans	$20.00
Wax	1	Stan and Dans	$20.00

Detailed Procedure

1. Wax two pairs of 170 cm dynastars WC giant slalom skis with identical base structure.
2. Place bottom side up with tips resting on a sawhorse.
3. Leave skis outside for two hours.
4. Get ice cubes the same size.
5. Put ice cubes at the top of the skis, let ices cubes go down, while timing how long it takes.

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

---

Data Table

---

---

---

---

Data Analysis

All Raw Data

Graphs

Photos

Results

My data showed 25-34 degrees was the fastest. All of my trials for that wax were 7 seconds and bellow that. For 18-28 degrees all of the trials were all above 7 seconds. And for 10-12 each trial was 9 seconds.

Conclusion

I reject my hypothesis. My question was " Does temperature of ski wax effect skis friction?" At first I thought that it was going to be pink 15-25 degrees Then I had to change my waxes. After that, I thought that it was going to be 10-21 degrees. The colder the snow the more fast the ski wax would be. But once I did my experiment I was totally off of what I thought was going to happen. The fastest wax was 25-34.

Discussion

For my science project this year I picked ski wax. My question was " Does temperature of ski wax effect skis friction" I was able the answer my question and say that there is a ski wax faster than the other. I did three waxes and four trials for each wax. For 25-34 degrees the first trials three out of the four trial were 7 seconds, The other trial was 6 seconds. For 18-28 degrees one trial was 8 seconds, second trial was 7 seconds and the lest two trials were 9 seconds. And for 10-21 every trial was 9 seconds. Yes, there was a trend in my data. The relationship between my two variables were strong. Since Friction means how fast something, seconds and friction mean the same thing. My independent variable was seconds. And my dependent variable was wax type.
I learned that ski wax isn't the same, some are fast than the others. Some are made different. I never thought that the temperature of wax would effect it performance on how fast it goes.
There wasn't any problems doing my experiment. There are thing that I could of improved while doing my experiment. I wish I could of done more wax, and different wax brands to have more of an idea of what really is the fastest ski wax. I wish that I did my experiment earlier than I did, and wish I did it on different days so the temperature of the wax and the temperature of the air was the same.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

This experiment is important to the community and science because you can see which ski wax is the fastest. For some people its a good thing, like ski racers or people who like to go fast. But might not be good for people who don't like to go fast. The people who could really use this is people who are into ski racing or just free skiing.

Background Research

I never thought that ski wax temperature effected the skis friction. A lot of people probably think, Skiing is way to expensive. Your right. Skiing is a very expensive. From someone who is just a free skier to someone who is a ski racer. With most of the projects the are very easy to do. Mine, not so much. Wax cost a lot of money. People don't really care about wax. All what they care about if they have skis, and if they work. But with racers wax is very important.
Ski wax can effect a lot of skis, and a lot of people. Applying wax helps your skis protects your skis. The wax reduces friction between the skis and the snow, enabling your skis to travel faster over the terrain. Which makes turning easier, allowing skiers to take sharper turns while traveling at high speeds.
The effects on ski temperature of the snow temperature, snow type, speed, and load is very important

References

http://www.livestrong.com/article/108363-effects-wax-skis/#ixzz2OUo57MSa
http://www.igsoc.org/journal.old/37/126/igs_journal_vol37_issue126_pg228-235.pdf

Abstract

Who knew that ski temperature effected that skis friction! I pick this project to do because I thought that it would help people who skis what is faster and everyone in my family skis. My sister and I ski race. Skiing is in our blood. So when it came to ski wax I knew that my project would be easy. My question was " Does temperature of ski wax effect skis friction?" my hypothesis was that I thought that 15-25 degrees would be the fastest. I had to change the waxes that I was going to use. After I changed the waxes, I thought that 10-21 was going to be that fastest. I was wrong. 25-34 degrees was that fastest.